How are you staying hopeful with everything going on in the world?

2022 has been a very intense year for many people worldwide. The list of things that are going wrong seems quite long. Living in these times has a real impact on our mental health and outlook on our future. I have been more intentional about making sure my mind is healthy and that I am hopeful for the future.
 
In this blog post, we will explore things we can do to regain hope and stay optimistic.
 
Focus on things that are going well
It is very easy to see and think about the things that are going wrong. We need to be more intentional about taking stock of things that are going well. Our minds do not automatically do this, and practice is required to make it easier.
 
Questions to consider

• What are three things that made you smile in recent times?
• What have you accomplished lately?

 
Surround yourself with positive people
The people around us play a very important role in helping us have a more positive outlook on life. We all know people who either uplift us or dampen our mood. It is crucial to be mindful of your relationships as they influence your view and emotional wellbeing.
 
Questions to consider

• Who are the people in your inner circle? 
• What types of conversations do you have with people in your life?

 
Take charge of your emotional wellbeing
Often it feels like we do not have control of our happiness and mental wellbeing. We let people and things happening around us determine how we feel. Over the past years, I have reclaimed control of my happiness. It led me on the journey of discovering what affects or increases my joy.
 
Questions to consider

• What makes you happy or sad? 
• Are you in charge of your happiness?

 
Make Changes and Take Action
It is one thing to know what affects your happiness and another to do something about it. I noticed that watching the news made me anxious and made me feel sad about the world. One concrete action I had to take was to cut out the news from my daily routine. It is crucial to make changes that will help you stay happy.
 
Questions to consider

• What changes do you want to make to maintain your happiness?
• Who can hold you accountable for making positive changes? 

 
Add more positive influences to your life
With all the negative things going on in our world, it is crucial for us to add more positivity to our lives. We can prioritize creating moments that bring us joy and laughter. This year, we had a great time with our family and are making an effort to enjoy the beautiful things in life.
 
Questions to consider

• What inspires and excites you?
• What can you do more that makes you happy?

 
Final Thoughts
The other day, I was reflecting on the times we live in and the fact that I cannot remember a time when so many negative things were happening at once. It is definitely an unprecedented time, and we need to do things differently. Take charge of your happiness and enjoy life !!!